GBC embraces the following as essential doctrinal beliefs for its ministry of teaching biblical truth. Believing the church is “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), the leadership of GBC adheres to the following doctrinal positions for teaching and leading ministries within and through the church.
THE SCRIPTURES
We believe the Bible is the plenary verbal inspired Word of God, in all 66 books that comprise the Old and New Testaments. We believe the Bible is inerrant in the original autographs and is the final authority for faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
THE GODHEAD
We believe there is one God who eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Each Person of this Trinity is fully deity, equal, and yet distinct in their individual roles. (Matthew 28:19)
THE SON, JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, who took on flesh to redeem man from sin and eternal separation from God. Virgin born, Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and was the only sacrifice to satisfy the holy demands of God for man’s salvation. Through His death on the cross, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God the Father, Jesus Christ has made eternal salvation available to all who believe in Him for eternal life. (John 1:1-5, 10-14)
THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit provides multiple ministries including convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and He seals, regenerates, and indwells those who believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life at the moment of faith. The Holy Spirit enables believers for Christian living and spiritual understanding. (John 16:8-11, Ephesians 1:13-14)
THE FATHER
God the Father is sovereign and provides grace, mercy, and peace to His children (believers in Jesus Christ) and is available to them through prayer. (Ephesians 1:2, 2:18, 3:14-15)
SIN
Mankind sinned against God in Adam and all mankind has inherited a sin-nature and is separated from God. Man is unable to remedy separation from God and sinful living by his own self-effort resulting in eternal punishment. (Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:22-23, Ephesians 2:1-3)
SALVATION
Salvation from eternal punishment is available through God’s provision of His Son, Jesus Christ. Through His death and shed blood on the cross and His bodily resurrection, complete payment for man’s sin has been made. All who believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life are given eternal life at the moment of faith in Christ. Believers can experience full assurance of eternal life due to the promise of God that all who believe in Christ will never lose that salvation. (John 3:16, 10:28, Ephesians 2:8-9)
THE CHURCH
The Church consists of all believers in Jesus Christ in the present age and is the Body of Christ. Local churches are defined and instructed in the New Testament as the proclaimers of truth, to meet regularly for edification, equipping, and encouragement. (1 Timothy 3:15)
God has gifted believers with spiritual gifts (as listed in the New Testament). These gifts are God given abilities to serve in and through the Church. (Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Peter 4:10)
The local church is to be governed by men who serve in the office of Elder. (Acts 20:28-30, 1 Peter 5:1-4)
ANGELS AND SATAN
God created angels and they are His messengers and His ministers to aid believers; are involved in supernatural engagement in the affairs of mankind, nations; and encounter demonic forces, all under the command of Sovereign God.
Satan is an angelic being who rebelled against the throne of God and presently seeks to disrupt God’s plan for the salvation of mankind and the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom. Other angelic forces that followed Satan’s rebellion are known as demons and engage in the affairs of humanity to disrupt the will of God.
The Bible informs believers of spiritual truths to be implemented to ward off the evil attempts of Satan and his demonic forces. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
THE FUTURE
Jesus Christ entered into the world in human form in His first Advent, so too He will return bodily to the earth in His second advent. The Bible is detailed regarding events pertaining and surrounding the return of Jesus Christ. In the end, Satan will be defeated and thrown into the lake of fire for eternity, along with those angelic beings who followed him and human beings who did not believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life. (Revelation 19:1)
After Christ’s return, all believers throughout human history will live with God Himself on the new earth as their eternal home.
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
The Holy Spirit has been sent to seal, indwell, teach, convict, baptize (place) into the Body of Christ, and provide spiritual empowerments for all believers. The believer is instructed to continue to learn how to walk in and be filled by the Holy Spirit and implement the spiritual resources provided by the Spirit towards Christlikeness and spiritual growth. (Galatians 5:15-26, Ephesians 5:18-26).
The Bible provides believers God’s truth for developing the mind of Christ through instruction, cleansing, and encouragement. (John 17:17)
The local church is to provide encouragement, biblical teaching, corporate worship, and mutual fellowship, all towards spiritual growth. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
MARRIAGE
We believe that marriage is a divinely created institution, uniting one man with one woman to become one flesh as long as both live. Attempts at redefining marriage in any other form than one man with one woman are outside of Biblical teaching and the will of God. (Genesis 1: 26-27, 2:18-24)